Electric switch mechanism



April 26, 1938. L. LUDWIG ELECTRIC SWITCH MECHANISM Filed June 30, 1936 INVENTOR. L o U16 vla/w1? ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 26, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE Louis Ludwig,

Application June 30,

3 Claims.

The invention relates to an electric switch of the push button type and has for its main object to provide a simple switch mechanism in which only a single push button is employed and which can be used with a great many electric de- Vices, particularly those of the'type which, by their nature, will indicate whether the switch is on or 01T, such for example as lamps, fans, and the like.-

Another object is to provide a' switch mechanism of simple construction which will occupy but small space, and which has no parts apt to wear out or get out of order. A further object is to provide a switch mechanism which can be manufactured and assembled at a low cost.

These and various other objects and advantages will be readily understood from Vthe following description and from the accompanying drawing of preferred embodiments of the invention, in which, however, modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a plan View of a switch made in accordance with the invention and shown with the switch open; v

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the switch ready to snap into the closed position;

Fig. 3 is a similar view shown with the switch in the closed position;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a top view showing the switch applied to a lamp socket; v

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is another el side elevation of evation rof Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a plan view of one of the parts used in the switch. y

Figs. l, 2, 3, and 4 illustrate a switch in' which the mechanism is contained in a recess Ill formed in a body member II, provided with sidewardlyextending anges I2 by means of which the device may be secured to the fixture on which used. A post I3, having an enlarged head I4, is secured tothe body member in any suitable manner, as for example by threading its lower end and securing it by means of a nut I5. A switch lever I6 is pivoted on the post. This switch 1ever is formed of a piece of sheet metal bent substantially into U-shape and provided with an enlarged and transverse head II which is somewhat narrower than, the lever itself. A washer I8 is slidingly mounted on the legs of the switch lever and is provided with two slots I9 and 20, as plainly shown in Fig. 8.

Brooklyn, N. Y.

1936, Serial No. 88,083 (ol. 173-355) A' cam member 2l is also mounted on the post I3 and comprises two cam faces 22 and 23 which are formed substantially at right angles to each other. These two cam faces terminate in a peak 24 which is slightly rounded. The cam member is also provided with two notches 25 and 2B on the side opposite to the peak 24. It is mounted between the legs of the switch member so that either of the cam faces or the peak, engage against the space 21 left between the two slotsV I9 and 20 in the washer I8. This washer is held in contact with the cam member by means of a compression spring 28, the ends of which abut against the washer and the enlarged head I'I. p

A push button 29 isy slidingly mounted in the front ofthe body member and provided with a lieXible bar 30 which is adapted to engage in either one or the other of the slots 25 and 2B.

Spring terminals 3| and 32 are secured to the body member by means of screws 33 and 34. The wires to which the switch is connected are secured to these screws in the regular manner. The end of each of the terminals is provided with a contact member 35 and 36. These contact members are spaced apart so that a gap 31 is formed between them, as plainly shown in Fig. 4.

The switch operates in the following manner. As shown in Fig. 1, the switch is open. When the button 29 is pushed in, the exible bar 30 engages in the notch 25 and turns the cam member in the direction and into the position shown in Fig. 2. In this view the peak 24 of the cam, as shown, coincides exactly with the center line 38 of the switch lever. A slight additional inward movement of the push button will cause the V peak to pass beyond the center line and suddenly cause the switch lever to snap intoy the position shown in Fig. 3. When in this position the head I1 engages with the contact points 35' and 3B and thus closes the current.

When the pressure on the push button 23 is released, a compression spring 39, mounted between the push button and the head I4 ofthe post I3, restores the push button to its normal position. This spring has been omitted in Figs. 1 and 2. If the push button is now again pushed in the bar 30 will engage in the notch 26 to move the cam in the opposite direction and thus, after the peak 24 has passed the center line of the switch lever, cause the lever to snap over again to the position shown in Fig. l, thus breaking the current. Stops 40 and 4I are formed in the recess to limit the movements of the switch lever.

In Figs. 5, 6, and 7, the switch is shown em- H sl 1ell,r the washerand the body-part together. Y Y This switch operates inthe same manner as Y onepreviously described. Y i. `While VIV have described and illustrated the switch .mechanism in connection with certainV ployed in a lamp socket. This Ysocket comprises the body member 42 and theordinary threaded metal shell 43 which is separated from the body member by an insulating Vwasher 44. The parts minal as in the ordinary lamp socket. The screw l 45 is secured in Va wire clamp 48, to which' one of the wires associated with thesocket may beaconnected, while the other wire may be connected to a wire clamp 49 secured to. the screw'32.f rI'he Y hole in the terminal'3l is sufficiently large so that the screw 451does notk touch the' terminal. The screw 46 is only je'mployedgfor clamping 'the the fixtures, itis,v of course, evident that a switch mechanism of this kind may be employed in many other fixtures and constructed with certain `modifications to adapt it to such xtures. I do not therefore, wish to limit myself'to the exact embodiments shown, but intend to useY the switch mechanism for any purposes to which it is adaptable.

j Having described the inventionand its objects,

' what I claim as new and wish to protect by Letters Patent ist.-

Y 1, Aswitch 'mechanism'V comprisinga recessed Y .lamp-socket base; a post secured inthe recess in saidbase; a bifurcatedswitch lever rotatingly mountedron said post; an angular cam'member similarly mounted on said baserand in the bifurcation of said switch lever; a washervslidingly mounted on the switch nlever andengaged against the vcam member; a compression spring associated with'the switch lever for normally holding said washer in contact with one or the other ofV ftheiaces on said cam member; twoV angular :notches formed in the cam member; spaced contact ,members'secured in the recess; one of said Y Contact members provided with an upwardly-ex,- tending member forming vthe `center-contact for the'lamp socket; an apertured insulating washer for covering said recess; a metal screw'shellvsecured to said washer and'base; a push button slidingly mounted laterally in the'baseqand extending' outside thereof; a flat spring member associated with saidrpu'sh button for engaging 1 in one or the Yother of the said notches toV turn the cam membemand a peak formed on-the cam member whichA when passing beyond the axial Vcenterline of the switch lever will cause this to be snapped-in one direction or Ythe other,'by the action of the compression spring and the washer associated with the switch lever, to engage with or disengage from said contactlmembers according to which notch is being engaged.VV

2. A switch mechanism comprising a recessed i lamp socket Ybase; a post secured inthe recess in said base; a bifurcated switch lever Vrotatinglyn mounted on said post; anrangular cam member similarly mounted on said base and inthe bifurcation of said switch lever; a washerslidingly mounted on the switch lever and engaged against the cam member; a compression spring associated with the switch lever for normally holding said washer'in'contact with oneorthe other of the faces on said cam member; two angular notches formed in the cam member; spaced Contact mem- Y bers secured in the recess; one of said contact members provided with an upwardly-extending member forming the center-contact for'the lamp socket; an apertured insulating washer for covering said recess; a metal screw shell securedlto said washer and base; a push button slidinglyV mounted laterally in the base and extending outsidethereof; means for restoring said push button to its normal position; aiiiat spring member associated with said push vbutton for engaging in one or the other-of the said notches to turn 'Y the camY member; anda peak formed Von the camv member which when passing beyond the axial centerline of the switch member will cause this to be snapped in one direction Yor theY other,

by the action of the compression spring and the washer associated with the switch lever, to engage Vwith or disengage from said contact membersY according to whichnotch is being'engage'd.

3. A switchrmechanism comprising aV recessed Ylamp-socket base; a post secured in the recess inrsaid base; a bifurcated switch lever rotatingly mounted on said post; an angular cam? Y member similarly. mounted onV said base andv in` the bifurcation of said switchV lever; fa washer., K,

yslidingly mounted onY the switch lever and engaged against the cam member; a compressionV spring associated with V`the ,switch lever for normally holding said washer in contact with one or the other of the Vfaces on said cam member; two

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angular notchesformedin the cam memberf' spaced contact members secured vin the recess;

oneof said contact members provided with an upwardly-extending member forming the centerp contact for the lamp socket; an apertured insulating washer for covering said recess; a metal l screw shell secured to said washer and base; `a push button slidingly mounted laterally in the Y basel and extending outside thereof; means ifor restoring Said pushbutton to its'normal position; a flat spring member .associated with'lsaid push button for engaging-'in one or the other of the said notches Yto turn the' cam memben-al peak formed on the cam member which. when passing beyond the axial center line of the switch Y lever will cause this to be snapped in one direc- Y tion or-the other, by the action of the compression spring and the washer associated with the switch lever, toV engage with or disengage from said contact members according to which notch is being i' engaged;.and stops formed in the base for limiting thefmovements ofthe switch Vlever aswell as the Vcam member.

LOUIS LUDWIG.

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